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The Intervision Song Contest 2025 was held near Moscow, Russia, as a conservative and geopolitical alternative to Eurovision. Revived from its Soviet-era origins at the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the contest emphasized “traditional family values” and attracted performers from over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, South America, and parts of Europe.
Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc’s winning entry, inspired by a Vietnamese folktale about a king defeating an invading army, featured strong vocals and elaborate visual effects, earning him 30 million rubles (approximately $360,000) and the top trophy.
Kyrgyzstan’s NOMAD group finished second, while Qatar’s Dana Al Meer secured third place.
Russia’s representative, nationalist singer Shaman (Yaroslav Dronov), requested that his performance not be evaluated, as Russia was hosting the event.
Organizers also announced that the next edition of the contest will be held in Saudi Arabia.
The Intervision contest attracted participants from countries Russia considers “friendly,” including Belarus, Cuba, South Africa, the UAE and Venezuela, alongside major nations such as China, India, and Brazil.
The event was broadcast live on Russian television, reaching viewers across multiple continents.
The United States’ representation became contentious when Australian-born singer Vassy, who also holds a US passport, withdrew at the last minute, citing alleged “political pressure” from the Australian government.
She had been chosen to replace American singer Brandon Howard, who withdrew days earlier for personal reasons. No official explanation was issued by Australia.
In a video message opening the contest, President Putin highlighted the "rapidly changing world" and stressed the importance of preserving "traditional family values."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also underscored the need to protect ''traditions, national cultures, and moral values.''
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